Top 10 Dog Friendly Beaches in the UK

Dear easipetcare friends,

Happy Summer Pawlidays!!! With the amazing weather we’ve been having there’s really no place like home! So we thought we would take a look at what we think are the best beaches in the UK to visit with your dog. Have we missed your favourite? If so, let us know!

In no particular order…

Sandymouth Beach, Cornwall

A beautiful stretch of coastline in a beautiful part of the UK. Car parking at Sandymouth is run by the National Trust, it costs just £3.50 for the day (unless you have a National Trust Card, in which case it is free!). There’s a cafe, a shop and ice cream, and the toilets are just down from the car park, which is always handy.


Balnakeil Beach, Durness, Scottish Highlands

Known for its cleanliness and spectacular sunsets, Balnakeil Beach is large and accessible. It offers endless opportunities for discovery and exploration, the most notable of which being the sand dunes. The sandy bay is crescent-shaped and faces west, this makes for unspoiled, peaceful bathing – if the weather’s on your side that is!


West Wittering Beach, Sussex

This one is perfect for anyone who wants to simply park their car, walk down to the beach with the kids and let the dog off the lead to run around. The beach is yards from the carpark and there’s miles of coastline to explore! West Wittering is open all year round with access to all areas, even in the winter months. When the tide comes in, it’s shallow for miles – making for a safe place for your dog to swim. Dogs and children alike will love the beautiful, soft sand.


Rhossili Bay, Swansea

In the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2018, Rhossili Bay was voted Wales’ Best Beach and the UK’s 3rd best. What’s more, it’s been in the top 10 for the last 6 years! Need we say more? Okay! Here’s one for our four-legged friends: The Times nominated Rhossili as ‘The UK’s No.1 Dog-Friendly Beach’. You can’t say fairer than that!


Runswick Bay, Yorkshire

Runswick Bay is a picturesque seaside village with a beautiful beach. A great walk in all weathers and at any time of the year; the beach at Runswick Bay is open to you and your dog all year round. What with its brightly-coloured rooftops and fishing boats, the ample rock pools and surfers, Runswick Bay makes for a pretty postcard (or Instagram update) indeed!


Mersea Beach, Essex

Nothing comes close to the feeling you get when you’ve discovered something new. This is exactly how you’ll feel after visiting West Mersea Beach. It’s set on an island, cut off at high spring tide and only eight square miles in size. You can be on your own land that you’ve discovered for the first time, your family and your four-legged friend by your side!


Holkham Bay, Norfolk

Recently voted the Best Beach in the UK in a survey of travel writers, Holkham Bay is one of the most unspoilt and beautiful stretches of sand in the country. There are walks for all age ranges and abilities; if you’re there during a high tide, you’ll witness lagoons forming in front of your eyes. Holkham Nature Reserve is close by, too.


Westward Ho!, Devon

Westward Ho! is a picturesque coastal village. It’s name, which derives from a Victorian novel by Charles Kingsley, is unique as it is the only place in Britain with an exclamation mark in its name! Renowned for its golden sandy beach and backed by a protective pebble ridge, Westward Ho! is great for surfers and is growing a reputation for kite surfing, too. With its Blue Flag status for water quality and lifeguard presence across the summer months, Westward Ho! is the perfect destination for families and pets alike!


Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Despite being the backdrop for one of Harry Potter’s saddest scenes (the death of Dobby), Freshwater West offers some breath-taking scenery as well as being a surfer’s paradise. The waves may be a tad strong for your dog, but the beautiful stretch of coastline, along with the neighbouring grassland, ought to provide you and your dog with plenty of adventure.


Kingsgate Bay, Kent

Kingsgate Bay is home to some of the best sea caves in Britain! With the chalk-white cliff face and it’s mesmerising beauty, we reckon that even your dog will be captivated. The sandy bay is calm, tranquil and secluded – there’s also a pub and cafĂ©/restaurant nearby for when you need to recharge.


 

So there you have it – our Top 10 UK beaches for doggies! Now go on and have the best summer ever and don’t forget to share your pictures with us on our facebook page!

Best wishes,

Judy.xxx

 Judy Walker B.Vet.Med MRCVS. Founder of easipetcare - find out more  about Judy here!